167. Oil: The Making of the Modern World

The Histories by Herodotus is a foundational work in Western historical literature. It chronicles the Greco-Persian Wars (499–479 BCE) and provides a comprehensive background on the rise and organization of the Persian Empire. The work is divided into nine books, each named after one of the Muses. Herodotus describes the conflicts between the Greeks and Persians, including key battles such as Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea, and Mycale. He also delves into the cultural, ethnographical, geographical, and historiographical aspects of the civilizations involved, offering a rich tapestry of historical and mythological narratives. Despite some criticisms for including legendary accounts, much of Herodotus's work has been validated by modern historians and archaeologists[1][2][3].

In 'Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century', Helen Thompson provides a comprehensive explanation for the recent disruptions in global politics. She argues that the standard explanations for the rise of populist nationalism and authoritarianism are too simplistic and instead examines the large-scale societal shifts, particularly in how the world produces and consumes energy. The book delves into the geopolitical instability caused by the global energy rivalry between the United States, Russia, and China, and how changes in international monetary policy have remade the world economy along fragile fault lines. Thompson concludes that these factors have precipitated the crisis of democracy in Western nations, highlighting how Western governments have become more focused on the consent of plutocrats than their own citizens.